METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRINTING A DYE IMAGE ONTO A THREE DIMENSIONAL OBJECT

摘要

The present invention provides an apparatus and method for applying preselected dye images (110) to three dimensional objects (100), having plastic outer surfaces. A bed (41) for receiving at least one three dimensional object (100) thereon with a flexible dye bearing carrier sheet (108) placed in registration on the object (100) and a resiliently flexible membrane (60), which is positionable over the sheet (108) on the object (100). A vacuum assembly (18) of the apparatus is operable to evacuate the area between the membrane (60) and the bed (41) in order to draw the membrane (60) into pressurized engagement with the flexible sheet (108) on the object (100) thereby drawing the flexible sheet (108) around the various surfaces of the object (100). Radiant heating ele ments (80) are operable both to preheat the carrier sheet (108), improving its flexibility and to heat the membrane (60) after the vacuum assembly (18) has been actuated, whereby the dye (110) on the sheet (108) is applied to the surfaces of the object (100) to produce the preselected image thereon.